Boeing B-29 “The Dragon Lady” from the 497th Bomb Group undergoes maintenance on Saipan, Marianas, late December 1944. (Photo by U.S. Air Force)

Boeing B-29 (#10) from the 24th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group after an emergency landing at Iwo Jima on April 24,1945. (Photo by U.S. Air Force)

61st Bomb Squadron, 39th Bomb Group, 314th Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force on the bomb run. (Photo by U. S. Air Force)

“Little Organ Annie” (42-24893) from the 794th Bomb Squadron, 468th Bomb Group, 58th Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force. (Photo by U.S. Air Force)

Boeing B-29 Superfortress. “The Wichita Witch”, B-29-40-BW Superfortress, s/n 42-24654, 874th BS, 498th BG, 20th AF. Destroyed on ground during enemy raid on Saipan, December 25, 1944. (Photo from D. Sheley collection)

53912 A.C. – India – Sgt Guy D. Cutter, Detroit, MI, left, and Cpl David Marks, Cincinnati, OH, guide a damaged engine of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress to the ground while three mechanics inspect the engine casing. (Photo by the National Museum of the USAF)

“Gravel Gertie” (Z-Square 29). Martin-Omaha B-29-15-MO Superfortress, s/n 42-65221, 882nd BS, 500th BG, 20th AF. Show after suffering a landing gear collapse on August 6, 1945. (Photo from D. Sheley collection)

Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Collision of two battle damaged planes on Iwo Jima, November 27, 1945. (Photo from D. Sheley collection)

The crew of the B-29 “Waddy's Wagon” posing to duplicate their caricatures in the nose art. This was the fifth B-29 to take off from Saipan on the first raid on Tokyo. She was lost on January 9, 1945 mission to Tokyo. They ditched in the Pacific Ocean near the island of Hachijo Shima. (Photo from D. Sheley collection)

“Uncle Sam's Milk Run”. B-29A-10-BN Superfortress, s/n 42-93906, 24th BS, 6th BG, 20th AF. Aircraft was originally named “Ernie Pyle's Milk Run” in reference to the reporters statement that bombing missions in the Pacific were “milk runs” compared to missions in Europe. After Pyle's death on April 17,1945 the crew decided to change the name and painted over the original. Shown is the aftermath of the crash-landing at Iwo Jima on May 23, 1945 after a mission to Tokyo by the LT Parks crew (2401). The crash killed the CoPilot and wounded the pilot and one gunner. (Photo from D. Sheley collection)

“Duchess”. Bell-Atlanta B-29-15-BA Superfortress, s/n 42-63411, 677th Bomb Squadron, 444th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force, Diamond #61 / Triangle N 61. Flown by Maj. Frank C. Stineman. Engine failure during take-off caused them to run off the end of the runway and the nosewheel collapsed, causing the damage shown. She was repaired and returned to service but was sent back to the U.S. as “War-Weary” on June 13, 1945. Dudhkundi, India. (Photo from D. Sheley collection)

“Tokyo Local” (Z-Square 26). B-29-45-BW Superfortress, s/n 42-24687, 882nd BS, 500th BG, 20th AF. Lost on the December 13, 1944 mission to bomb the Mitsubishi aircraft engine factory at Nagoya, Japan. Damaged by flak it was ditched on the return trip with an engine on fire. All eleven crew members were KIA. Shown taking off from Saipan. (Photo from D. Sheley collection)